With the U.S. war against the Islamic Republic of Iran nearing the two-month mark, another Holy War of sorts is taking place in America, and in Florida. This same ideological war appears to be raging in the Republican congressional primary in District 6.
U.S. Rep. Randy Fine (R), one of a handful of Jewish-American lawmakers in the House of Representatives, is being challenged by two candidates —Aaron Baker and Dan Bilzarian— both of whom have expressed their disdain toward the Jewish state of Israel.
The current state of the race looks like a fight between the pro-Muslim, pro-white nationalist lobby that condemns Israel, and the Judeo-Christian lobby that believes Israel must be defended at every turn.
East vs. West?
Rep. Fine, the outspoken firebrand who is an unabashed supporter of Israel and a pro-Jewish lawmaker, has received tens of thousands of dollars from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). According to the TrackAIPAC website, Rep. Fine has received about $1,000,000 from "Pro-Israel lobby groups and their donors."
Extremist anti-Israel "influencers" like Nick Fuentes, Candace Owen, and Tucker Carlson have demonized AIPAC and the monetary support they have given to elected officials like Rep. Fine.
But while Fine has been able to garner support from AIPAC, which supports both Republican and Democratic lawmakers who support Israel, who is funding and supporting the congressional campaigns of Bilzarian and Baker?
Bilzarian, who once avoided jail time on a federal explosives charge and referred to Fine as a "fat Jew," has in the past pushed antisemitic tropes like "Jewish supremacy is the greatest threat to the world today."
Bilzarian could self-fund his campaign, but as of this week, the online influencer has not filed a fundraising statement with the Federal Election Committee (FEC)
Baker has also condemned Israel, using progressive and antisemitic rhetoric used by Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, accusing Israel of conducting an "occupation" and referring to the Jewish State as "genocidal. "Baker has also called Fine the "genocidal representative of Congress."
While he says he supports the U.S. funding Israel's "Iron Dome" defense system, Baker is against funding and supplying Israel with offensive, kinetic military weapons. Baker's view counters that of the Anti-Zionist America PAC's position to stop all aid to Israel. The political action committee donated $1,50o to Baker's campaign.
In looking at his FEC report, Baker has received campaign donations from no less than 12 Muslim-Americans, some of whom have very questionable ties to radical Islam. The most notable donation that Baker's campaign has received has been from Hassan Shibly, the former spokesman for the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), who was also hit with a domestic violence injunction by his wife in 2021.
CAIR-FL was designated a terrorist organization by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
It's important to note that CAIR-FL found blame in Israel, not in the Hamas terrorist organization that slaughtered over 1,200 civilians in Israel on Oct.7, 2023.
"CAIR-FL stated that they “stand firmly” in support of the Palestinian people, and said, “The relentless and unjustified attacks by Israel on Palestinian towns, cities, and refugee camps have resulted in heartbreaking loss of Palestinian lives.”
"The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Florida Chapter (CAIR-FL), stands firmly in support of the Palestinian people and their fundamental right to be free from the Israeli occupation.
Shibly, who has praised and promoted the spread of Sharia in America, recently stated that "Islam will prevail" in America (VIDEO), donated $1,250 to Baker's campaign against Fine.
In addition, Adam Abbas, who could be related to Abutaa Abbas (another donor of Baker's), is organizing manager at the pro-Islamic and Democratic Party-supporting organization, Emgage.
Abbas donated $1,041 to Baker.
Emgage has openly supported Democratic Socialists like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib.
Also, Uzma Kardame, a teacher at the ILM Academy, a private Islamic school in California, focused on Sharia compliance and integrating Islamic and conventional education, and also donated $500 to Baker.
Ibrahim Awad, a Georgia attorney who has condemned Israel and argued in support of the Palestinians, donated to $1,041 to Baker.
Fine is pushing President Donald Trump's 'America First' agenda and is supportive of the war against Iran. Baker and Bilzarian are also pushing an 'America First' agenda, but they appear solely focused on attacking Fine over the abrasive language he uses against antisemitism and for his support for Israel.
